Floor machine



Nbv. 7, 1933- w. s. FINNELL FLOOR MACHINE Filed Aug. 29. 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l knelt 1 W. S. FINNELL FLOOR MACHINE Nov. 7, 1933.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 m m M #12 Mi mlz j/a W. S. FINNELL Nov. 7, 1933.

FLOOR MACHINE i v f f 5 I 4% (L 3 Patented Nov. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLOOR MACHINE ration of Indiana Application August 29, 1928. Serial No. 302,747

8 Claims.

My invention relates to floor machines and haste do especially with a machine for household use which may be used for scrubbing, sanding, waxing and polishing floors. One form of a machine of this character is shown and described in my co-pending application Serial No. 240,110, filed December 15, 1927, for Floor machines, on which Letters Patent No. 1,881,431 were granted October 11, 1932, of which thisapplication is a 10 continuation asto all matter common to the two applications.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a simple, cheap and highly efficient machine of this character which is of such size as to 15 require very little storage space and which is light in weight and exceedingly easy to handle.

Another object is to provide means for readily and quickly converting the machine for scrubbing, sanding, waxing or polishing. To this end I provide a detachable member adapted to be supported by a brush device in contact with the floor surfacegsuch member embodying flexible elements yieldingly engageable with the brush de vice to effect a driving connection therebetween 5 which permits adjustment of the member in all directions, vertical and otherwise, relative to the brush device to compensate for irregularities in the floor surface under treatment.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this description progresses and by reference to the drawings wherein,-

Figure 1 is a lateral vertical section through a floor machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the detachable floortreating member shown beneath the brushes in the structure of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing another form of floor-treating structure embodying my invention;

Fig. 5 is a separated elevational view of the form of detachable floor treating member shown in Fig. 4:

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of a structure shown in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

In the drawings, I have shown two forms of apparatus embodying my invention, each of which is compact and neat in appearance. The form shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, comprises a driving mechanism which includes a housing having a top section 10 with a horizontal flange 11 at its bottom edge, and a fiat bottom section 12 which is secured to the flange 11 by a plurality of screws 13. The housing is adapted to be filled with a lubricant and a gasket 14 is inserted between the flange 11 and bottom plate 12 to prevent leakage of the lubricant at that point. This housing is adapted to contain gearing driven, preferably, by an electric motor'and the gearing may be suitable for the driving of two brush structures such as shown and described in my above-identified original application. The gearing for driving one brush structure comprises, more specifically, a w'o'rmgear 16 having a hub 16 supported between the bearings 17 and 18 formed on the top and bottom housing sections and 12, respectively. This gear is keyed to the shaft 19 which is also journaled in the bearings 17 and 18 and this shaft projects downwardly through the bottom pla e 12 for a purpose which will become obvious hereinafter.

A suitable worm driven by the electric motor, or other power means, may be employed for driving the worm gear 16 as shown and described in said original application.

The projecting end of the shaft 19 is slightly tapered to receive a flat-sided driving head 24 0 which has an octagonal shape whereby its' upper edges are tapered downwardly and its lower edges are tapered upwardly. This head is secured to the shaft 19 by a pin 24 so that it will rotate therewith, or, if desired, the head may have a 5 suitable threaded connection with the shaft 19 instead of the arrangement just described. The usual stufiing box 12 is associated with the shaft 19 of the housing to prevent leakage of the lubricant.

The driving head 24 is associated with a brush device which comprises a circular brush head 25 formed, preferably, of wood with an open ng 26 through its central portion. This brush head carries a plurality of brush bristles 27 mounted in any desired manner, but spaced at the center to provide access therethrough to the opening 26 in the brush head.

A circular metal plate 28 having its central portion depressed to form a fiatsided pocket 29 shaped similarly to the driving head 24 is secured to the top of the brush head 25 by a plurality of screws, or other suitable devices 30. This pocket 29 is adapted to receive the driving head 24 so that upon rotation of the gear shaft 19 a corresponding movement will be transmitted to the brush device. This pocket is of greater length and width than the driving head and its bottom portion is rounded to' receive the rounded end 24 of the driving head whereby the brush device is free to tilt in all directions relative to the driving head to compensate for irregularities which may be present in the floor surface.

To provide a connection between the brush device and the driving mechanism which permits of ready attachment and detachment of the brush device as WeILasiinsuring-that these structures will remain connected during operation, I provide a spring connector 31 adapted to be carried by the metal plate 28. This spring connector is, preferably, bent to the form shown in Fig.2 so that the arms 33 thereof tend to spring toward each other. The loop end of this connector is attached to the metal plate28 bya ing 32 preferably struck upwardly from the plate and then bent downwardly as indicated in Fig. 1. The ends of the spring arms 33-are confined and held in a predetermined spaced relation by spaced lugs 34 struck upwardly from the plate 28 and thenbent downwardly as indicated in Fig. l. The tendency of thearms 33 to spring inwardly toward each other limited by these retaining lugs.

may be readily and quickly attached to the drivingv head by merely inserting the lower end of the driving head between the spring arms-forcing the brush device toward the driving head, during which movement the spring arms are yieldingly 'they engage .the upper tapered edgesof the driving-head. .To detach thebrush structure, said structure is moved away from the driving head,

the spring arms 33. spread apart and permit withdrawal of the driving head, the .upper tapered edges of the driving head aiding in this action as will be well appreciated.

The structure so far described may be readil used for scrubbing and polishing purposes, de-' pending upon the character of the brush bristles employed. Assuming that the brush device is suitable for scrubbing, the scrubbing fluid is applied to the floor surface by hand or in any other desired manner. The brush is then rotated to carry out the scrubbing operation. In using the brush device for polishing the floor the operation isjthe same as in scrubbing, except that a suitable polishing brush is substituted for the scrubbing brush.

An important feature of my invention is the provision of means for readily converting the machine for either scrubbing or sanding or waxing 'or polishing the floor surfaces. To this end, I provide a detachable member, one form of which is shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive. This member (Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive) comprises a circular metal plate 48 which is substantially the diameter of the brush device and which has a peripheral upstanding flange 49. A pair of upstanding spaced and flexible attaching lugs 50 are carried by the central portion of the plate 48 so that when the plate is positioned, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, these lugs will extend upwardly between the brush bristles and through the opening 26 in the brush head. The free ends of these upstanding lugs 50 are'bent outwardly and then inwardly to provide opposed V-shaped surfaces. The metal brush plate 28, at the opposite sides of the driving head receiving-pocket, is provided with slots 51 adapted to receive the upstanding.

lugs 50 so that the rotary motion of the brush device will be transmitted to the plate 48.

The slots 5l.are so located that, when the upstanding lugs 50 are inserted between the brush withthisconstruction, the brush device bristles and through the opening 26 in the brush head, on the opposite sides of the driving head receiving-pocket, the inwardly tapered end portions of said lugs will engage the slots. As these lugs are forced inwardly toward the brush device, their ends will be forced inwardly toward each other and will then spring away fromeach other as the V-shaped end portions pass through said slots. This arrangement is such that the detachable member will remain connected to the brush device during operations and at times when the machine may be lifted from the floor, but will, at the same time, permit ready attachment and detachment of the member by merely pushing the same inwardly toward the brush device and by pulling it outwardly therefrom in a manner whichwill be readily understood.

It will be appreciated that this detachable member which is used for sanding or waxing or polishing is cushioned against the floor surface by the brush bristles and that the upstanding lugs 50 are so connected to the brush device that the member may adjust itself vertically and tiltably in all directions to accommodate irregularities in the floor surface.

side a soft pad 53 formed, preferably, of a felt material over which is passed a floor treating element 54 which may take the form of a piece of sandpaper or burlap material or a polishing'cloth, depending upon the treatment to be given the floor surface. The burlap material is, preferably, used in waxing the floor and may consist of two layers of burlap between which the wax material is placed so that, as the burlap is rotated upon the floor surface, the heat generated will melt the wax and cause it to readily flow through the burlap material into contact with the floor surface. The treating element 54 is secured upon the plate 48 by passing the same up over the periphf eral flange 49 and down upon the upper surface of such plate. The upper surface of the plate carries a plurality of spring clips 55 (Figs. 1 and 3) which serve to hold these overlapping edges tightly in place.

In Figs. 4 to 7 inclusive, I have shown another form of means for converting the machine for sanding, waxing and polishing. In this form of my invention, I also employ a circular metal plate 48 which is substantially the diameter of the brush device and which has a peripheral upstanding flange 49. A soft pad of felt material 53 is mounted on the underside of the plate 48 and a floor treating element 54' (which may besandpaper, burlap material or polishing cloth) is passed oQer the felt material and the plate 48' as clearly indicated in Fig. '7. The element 54' is sufliciently flexible and is of such size as to pass over the upstanding flange 49' on the plate and overlap the top surface thereof.

The element 54 is held in place as follows: A circular disk 56 of a size adapted to fit within the peripheral flange 49 is adapted to be mounted upon the top of the plate 48' and upon the overlapping edges of the material 54'. The central portion of the plate 48' is cuppedto provide a central recess 5'7 having an opening which receives a screw 58. This screw is, preferably, securely fastened to the plate 48' in the position indicated in the drawings, by welding or other suitable means. The disk 56 is provided with a similarlycupped central portion to permit the same to fit snugly upon the corresponding portion of the plate 48. This portion is also provided with an opening through which the screw 58 is passed.

The cupped portion of this disk supports upstanding spring arms 50 which are similar in construction, mounting and purpose, to the spring arms 50 of theform of Figs. 1 to 3. These arms, as shown, may constitute the legs of a U- shaped member which is secured to the disk 56 by a small plate 59 having a channeled portion 60 straddling the base of the spring arms. The disk 59 may be secured to the disk 56 by welding or any other suitable means. Both the disk and base portion of the spring leg are providedwith openings through which the outer end of the screw 58 projects, and a thumb nut 61 is adapted to be screwed upon the projecting end of this screw to tightly clamp the disk 56 and the parts carried thereby to the plate 48'. In doing this, the floor treating element 54' is clamped tightly between the members 48 and 56 and is held against removal during operation. This arrangement provides a very rigid structure which may be quickly assembled and disassembled for the changing of the material 54' according to the use to which the machine is to be put. The constructure and operation of this form, other than above described, is the same as that of the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive.

' From the foregoing it will be readily appreciated that my invention provides a highly efiicient arrangement for scrubbing, sanding, waxing or polishing the floor. The apparatus may be used with brush devices alone for scrubbing the floor, or for adding a. high polish thereto. The detachable member, including the plate 48, may be applied to the brush device for sanding, or waxing or polishing the floor. The structure as a whole is exceedingly simple in construction and is very easy to operate. Floors may be readily treated by an unskilled person. The machine is of such shape that it may readily move about the fioor and beneath objects without danger of injuring the same. As an aid in this connection, I also employ a rubber bumper 62 which extends around the gear housing in a groove between the upper and lower sections thereof. In addition to the foregoing, the machine is of such small size that it requires a min mum of storage space.

While I have shown only two embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that various changes in details and arrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as defined by the claims which follow:

I claim: a

1. In a floor machine, the combination of a brush device including a brush head carrying bristles and having an opening through the center thereof, a disk carried by said head and having a portion depressed into said opening to form a fiat sided pocket and having slots at the sides of said pocket, driving mechanism for said device including a fiat-sided head adapted to be inserted in said pocket, a member seated against said bristles, a floor treating element associated with said member, and a driven connector between said member and brush device for moving said member therewith comprising upstanding yielding arms having irregularly shaped end' portions adapted to pass through said slots.

2. In a floor machine, the combination with a brush holder and brush means carried thereby, of means for adjusting the machines for sanding, waxing and polishing, which comprises a member removably engageable and rotative with said brush holder, another member detachably connected to said first member, means for detach- 3 ably connecting said members together, and a floor treating element'carried by said connected members in contact with the surface under treatment and detachably secured in place by the securement-together of said members, said members and elements being yieldably supported against said brush means. 3

3. In afioor machine, the combination with a brush holder and brush means carried thereby, of means for adapting said machine for sanding, waxing, polishing and the like, which comprises a plate member removably engageable and rota tive with said brush holder, another plate mem ber removably connected to said first member, and a floor treating element mounted upon said latter member and extending between said members, means detachably and rigidly securing said two members together to clamp said element to said other member, said element being engageable with the surface under treatment, and said members and element being yieldably supported by said brush mea 4. In a floor machine, a brush structure, and means removably carried by said brush structure for adapting the machine for sanding, waxing, pol shing, and the like, said means comprising a disk, a floor treating member carried by said disk in contact with the floor under treatment, a pad between said disk and member, a second disk detachably secured to said first disk and for holdingsaid member in place on said first disk, and a plurality of lugs carried by said second disk and removably engageable with said brush structure by passing the same through openings in said brush structure.

5. An attachment for floor treating machines embodying brush structure comprising a plate member having means for loosely and removably engaging and supporting the same on said brush structure and for rendering said member selfadjustable relative to said structure during operation, a second plate member detachably connected to said first member for movement therewith, a floor treating element carried by said second member in engagement with the surface under treatment, means for detachably securing said two plate members together to clamp said element upon said second plate member, and cushioning means between said second-named member and element.

6. An attachment for fioor treating machines comprising a member having an upstanding peripheral flange, a flexible fioor treating element carried by said member, pad means between said member and elemnt, said element being so shaped as to enclose said pad means and overlap said flange, another member mounted upon said first member within the confines of said upstanding flange and seated upon the portion of said element which overlaps said flange, means for detachably securing said members together, and means detachably connected to said members by said securing means for effecting removable engagement of said members and element as a unit with said floor machine.

7. A sanding, waxing, and polishing attachment for a floor machine comprising a member, an attaching unit including opposed spring fingers normally sprung outward away from each other, the outer ends of said fingers having opposed V-shapes, another member, means for detachably securing said members and spring finger unit together, and a floor treating element mounted upon said second member and secured peripheral flange, a floor treating element caroverlapping end portion of said element, a clamp between said two members for securing the same tightly together, and attachment-actuation elegag eabie with said machine for movement thereby, said latter elements being adapted for selfinterlocking engagement with said machine.

WALTER S. FINNELL.

ried by said member and having an end portion overlapp'ng said flange, another circular member mounted upon said first member and upon the ments carried by said second member and en- 

